RUNNING GERMANY: BERLIN – Final tips for the 37. Berlin Half Marathon on SUNDAY, april 2, 2017

With two days left before the race, it is time to finish fine tuning your training and start getting ready mentally for the race through the capital of Germany.

Over 30,000 participants are registered for the largest half marathon in Germany.

This newsletter provides several important tips for the big event. Should you have missed any training in the recent past due to illness or injury, do not attempt now to make up for any lost training. Our experts recommend that you continue training as usual.

That will serve you well on April 2.

Tapering: The fine-tuning for the final days before the race

Like last year, the BERLIN VITAL Expo will take place at STATION Berlin at Gleisdreieck, which is easily accessible with public transportation (U1+U2/Station: Gleisdreieck).

The expo begins at 3 PM on Thursday, March 30, and runs until 7 PM on Saturday, April 1. We recommend that all participants from Berlin and Brandenburg (about 12,000) use Thursday and Friday to pick up their kits, as Saturdays always mean long lines (about 20,000 participants who travel for to Berlin for the race).

So, avoid the long lines on Saturday and come Thursday or Friday if you live in or around Berlin!

No parking is available! Please use public transit; the best option is via subway (U1 und U2).

BERLIN VITAL expo: special entrance for participant race number pick-up

The special entrance for race number pick up at the BERLIN VITAL Expo has proven to be quite effective. Upon entry into the expo venue, visitors and accompanying persons will go directly into the expo hall, while participants will be directed to the race number pick-up.

 

All participants who cannot compete at the last minute due to illness or injury should enter this line and proceed to the info desk of the Medical Service with a physician's note.

Accompanying persons and   participants can then meet up again at one of the two large meeting points.

 

 

 

Personal ID and Participant Wristband

Race kits must be picked up in person with your START PASS and a photo ID. Participants will also receive a soft wristband at the BERLIN VITAL Expo that provides access to start area.

                 

It must be worn until the finish area has been exited after the race. The durable, soft material also makes for a nice memento of the 2017 Berlin Half Marathon.

You can find other important information online in our participant info.

 

 

There are four entrances to the start area

The start area for the Berlin Half Marathon on Karl Marx Allee is completely fenced in. There are four security controlled points of access to the start area: Strausberger Platz, Schillingstrasse, Berolinastrasse and Alexanderstrasse (the latter two entrances are only for participants without a clothing bag). As the subway station Schillingstrasse will be closed on April 2, we recommend entering via Strausberger Platz. You can find a map on our website.
Arrive early to avoid being stressed.

 

You should be at the start at 8:45 AM at the latest. There will be plenty of toilets available at the start, and clothing drop off will be in the red Höffner trucks, as usual.

No backpacks, suitcases or any other bags exept the official clothing bag (received at the race kit pick-up at the expo) will be allowed into the starting area.

Official clothing bags have to be dropped only at the truck according to your bib number. Clothing bags left elsewhere will be removed.

Source: Berlin Half Marathon